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An Historical and Biographical 
Sketch of the Hymn 

''Nearer My God to Thee" 

Its Author, and the Poet Robert 

Browning's relation to 

its composition 

♦ 

With an Account of South Place Chapel, Finnsbury, 
London^ England 



By 
REV. JOSHUA E. WILLS, D. D. 

Author of 

The Church Founded by Our Lord Jesus; The Believer's Manual on Baptism; 
Christian Stewardship, or. How Much Owest Thou My Lord? ; Satan a Person- 
ality; Historical Sketch of the Second Baptist Church, Baltimore. Md.; Let 
Your Light So Shine; Diotrephes, or. The Bad Deacon; Moved With Envy; 
HelpineThe Ungodly; A Church Contrasted With "The Church"; Joy in 
Believing; Triumph and Glory; Infidelity and Atheism, Both Ancient and 
Modern; Bible Stories for Young and Old; The Parson Thai "Nobs and Bobs" 
a Bit; The Chained Bible; Protestantism Before and After the Reformation; 
Sprinkling Not New Testament Baptism; Sabbath Not Sunday; The Good 
Shepherd; Are You a Christian? ; Snouty's Conversion; Happy Jack; Mary 
Did It; "Oh! Sir, That's My Mother"; "Flabby Nell"; "Light in Ireland"; 
"Out of Stony Grief"; "The Evil Tongue"; An Incident and a Coincident: 
Think on These Things; Dr. Isaac Watts' Contribution to Hymnology; The 
Rite of Confirmation Un-Apostolic; Historical Sketch of the Pittsfrove 
Baptist Church ; The Life and Times of Rev. Thomas Patient; 
Apostolic Succession a Mythological Farce; etc., etc. 



*4-' 



SECOND EDITION 






,UN 28 1920 



Nearer My God to Thee'' 



The origin and history of this ever popular Hymn and its au- 
thoress will doubtless be of interest to the great multitudes that 
express their gratitude to our common Lord, both in the public 
assemblies and in their home circles. The occasion that suggested 
writing the poem to the mind of its authoress is not generally 
known to the world-wide masses and classes, whose hearts have 
been made tender toward God, in moments of sweet soul-uplift, 
while they sing the words, "Nearer My God to Thee." 

The authoress, whose maiden name was Sarah Flower, was of 
English birth and of Baptist parentage. She was born at London, 
February 22, 1805, and composed the hymn, "Nearer My God to 
Thee,'' when she was in the twenty-first year of her age. Miss 
Flower was married to Mr. William B. Adams in May, 1829, and 
lived a happy married life. Mr. Adams was a strong Unitarian, 
unyielding in his views and of a very decided temperament charac- 
teristic of the Englishman. His wife, Sarah Flower Adams, was 
of a religious temperament and remained true to her Baptistic be- 
lief and training throughout her, jii;f e,tinie. Sarah Flower Adams 
was a gifted woman, of rare intellectual and poetical ability. She 
composed a number of poems, which were much prized by the 
literary critics, for their fervent, devotional and spiritual uplifting 
sentiments prior and subsequent to her marriage to Mr. Adams. 
Sarah Flower Adams was not a strong, robust physique, but of 
marvelous energetic temperament. She was devotedly attached 
to her only sister Elizabeth, whose death in 1846 had such a 
marked effect on her health that she never fully recovered from 
the shock, and followed Elizabeth in death two years after, Au- 
gust 15, 1848. 

The hymn, "Nearer My God to Thee," was not in general use 
among Chapel Folks for several years after its first presentation 
by the two sisters, Elizabeth and Sarah Flower, who sang it at the 
South Place Chapel, Finnisbury, as a duet on a number of occa- 
sions before it caught the popular attention. The English pub- 
lisher, Mr. John Julian, A.M., published the "Dictionary of Hymn- 
ology," and republished it in America. Mr. Julian says that "the 
hymn went through a number of variations and changes, and that 



W. J. Fox, Esq., first published it in 1841 in his 'Hymns and 
Anthems.' " From that day it took an advanced place in the fore- 
front of the popular esteem of the church world, and continues to 
be numbered among the most popular hymns sung in the churches 
of every phase of the Christian faith." 

In a comparatively recent issue of a leading daily of New York 
City, the question was asked of its readers if they would vote for 
their favorite hymn, just like they voted to determine the Na- 
tional flower, and the result of the enormous vote extending sev- 
eral days, the Sarah Flower hymn, "Nearer My God to Thee," 
was second on the list, and a close trailer to the Coronation Hymn, 
"Crown Him Lord of All," which was first. This shows at a 
glance the strong place still held in the popular esteem and re- 
gard of the hymn-singing public, "Nearer My God to Thee," has 
up to date. 

Objection has been raised in some quarters to the hymn because 
the name of Christ does not appear in the original version, and at- 
tempts have been made to remedy the so-called omission of the 
Saviour's name. The Rev. Arthur T. Russell attempted, among 
others, to cover the omission with the following stanza : 

"Christ alone heareth me 

Where Thou dost shine. 
Joint heir He maketh me. 

Of the Divine. 
In Christ my soul shall be 

Nearest my God to Thee, 

Nearest to Thee." 

The Rev. Dr. Whitley calls attention to "The fact that the Trus- 
tees were not satisfied with the hymn, as Miss Sarah Flower wrote 
it, and asked the Editor to write a final verse, but I am glad to say 
that our standard book, the 'Baptist Church Hymnal,' ignores the 
addition." 

Benjamin Flower and wife moved from their home town, Har- 
low, and came "up to London" in 1804 and located at Finnisbury, 
the then growing suburb of London, and engaged in conducting a 
"Draper's Shop" for their livelihood. Benjamin Flower and 
Elizabeth, his wife, were both in fellowship with the South Place 
Chapel, Finnisbury, which was located in the immediate neigh- 
borhood of their shop, and where he and his family resided in the 
dwelling portion of his business premises, a very common custom 
among the middle class English shopkeepers, and which prevails 



largely to this day with the small Knolish shoi)keepers. Great and 
marked changes took place at Finnisbury. in common with all the 
nearby suburbs. The rapid growth of the population, coupled with 
the immense development in the commercial life of London, made 
it very difficult indeed to maintain the South Place Chapel as a dis- 
tinct .Baptist Meeting House. The removals incident to the 
changed conditions pressed very heavily upon the loyal little group 
of Baptists and occasioned a giving up of much that had been 
long cherished, and so much esteemed among Baptist Folks. "The 
stranger came within the gates" and outnumbered the little Bap- 
tistic fellowship, who still lived at Finnisbury and worshiped 
within the South Place Chapel. The record of the effective and 
efficient ministry of Rev. William Vidler, whose early labors had 
a great and marked effect upon the doctrinal and spiritual life of 
South Place Chapel during his extended ministry of many years, 
and yet, notwithstanding the great and esteemed labors of Rev. 
William Vidler, at South Place Chapel and vicinity, it is strange 
to relate, Mr. Vidler later became a victim to that anti-Scriptural 
fad of Bumpology, and his later teachings were foreign to the 
generally accepted views of the regular Baptist. 

The theories of Air. Vidler's predecessor, the noted Universal- 
ist. Rev. Elkanna Winchester, appear to have had a deterrent 
effect upon the spiritual development of the South Place Chapel, 
Finnisbury, for many years after his retirement. His erroneous 
views were held by many of the congregation and occasioned no 
little unrest and concern. Mr. Winchester was a strong and strik- 
ing personality, and, like all men of his caliber, secured a follow- 
ing in the community. His strong advocacy of that farcical hallu- 
cination led to the spiritual undoing of many in his day, and doubt- 
less to the "remnant that remained." Mr. Vidler's later ministry 
at South Place Chapel became impaired because of his changed 
views of truth. Unfortunately, many of the English Dissenters of 
those peculiar times were more or less disturbed by the fallacious 
and erroneous teachings of this revived school of error, which 
swept over the British Isles, and the American Continent during 
the late Seventeenth and early Eighteenth centuries. 

The Rev. W. T. Whitley, M.A., LL.D., fellow of the Royal His- 
toric Society, and secretary of English Baptist Historic Society, 
writing under date of January 13, 1913, says: "There is a curious 
bit of development about South Place Chapel, Finnisbury, founded 
by Elkanna Winchester, the Universalist. It became very popular 
under Rev. William Vidler, and took on a Baptist hue.' But he 
further became Unitarian, and so the Church rent, and wliile it 



did remain .Baptist in a sense, that was not, therefore, the domi- 
nant note. Under Fox, I expect, it lost altogether that tinge, being 
distinctly Unitarian. Its after changes converted it into a merely 
Ethical Society." 

J. R. Smith, Esq., says : "The change from the distinct Baptist 
polity and doctrine of the South Place Chapel, Finnisbury, is due 
to the changing conditions of its surroundings, and chiefly to the 
removals of the Baptist Christians to other districts. Finnisbury 
went like all other metropolitan suburbs. The old South Place 
Chapel, in common with other unaffiliated Union dissenting Chap- 
els, in those peculiar times, suffered at the hands of the local An- 
glican vicar, and the oppressive measures of the "Sidesman,"' ably 
supported by the ecclesiastical authorities 'higher up.' " 

Notwithstanding the changed conditions effected by removals 
and the commercial development, Benjamin Flower and family 
continued to reside at the "Draper Shop" and worship at South 
Place Chapel. The death of Mrs. Elizabeth Flower, the wife and 
mother, was a great and severe loss to the family. The two daugh- 
ters were drawn closer together and were constant companions, 
and deeply interested in "Chapel Services." The young sisters 
were "gifted in song," and often rendered selections at the public 
services. Shortly after the death of the wife and mother, a new 
minister came into notice. The Rev. George J. Fox, the distinguish- 
ed Unitarian minister, was invited to the pastorate of the South 
Place Chapel. The congregation became under Mr. Fox's minis- 
try overwhelmingly Unitarian in sentiment, the growing views 
being held by many dissenting ministers. The Rev. George J. Fox, 
it is said, was a man of unusual scholastic ability, of strong and 
striking personality, a preacher of great eloquence, a gentleman of 
fine parts and of a very gracious spirit. Rev. Mr. Fox became a 
very noted minister in the Unitarian body, and attracted to South 
Place Chapel a fine congregation, noted for its intellectual and so- 
cial life. "The Cockneys went to Finnisbury to hear the eloquent 
Fox." 

Some few years after the death of Airs. Elizabeth Flower, t]ie 
father, Benjamin Flower, followed her in death, leaving Elizabeth 
and Sarah orphans. G. C. Pomeroy, the English author, said, in 
the extended published article of the "Telegraph" of November, 
1912, that "the Rev. George J. Fox was appointed guardian of 
Elizabeth and Sarah Flower, the two beautiful and talented daugh- 
ters of his friend, Benjamin Flower, on the death of their father 
and became members of his household, which was in the vicinity 
of Browning's home. The boy Browning was about twelve years 



old when his mother first became acquainted with the two young 
women, who were nine and seven years his senior."' 

This is in perfect agreement with Mr. John Luckham, the book- 
seller and publisher's account, when he says : "The young sisters, 
Elizabeth and Sarah, were received into the home of Rev. George 
J. Fox, but they had been well grounded in the truth and love of 
their Saviour. They, like their sainted parents, had rejoiced in 
the redemptive work, and had put on Christ in baptism." This is 
in direct confirmation and agreement with Dr. Whitley's refer- 
ence to Miss Sarah Flower. *Tt was easy enough to verify and 
see that her father had been at Harlow where I rather think he had 
been minister, but of this I am not certain." 

The Baptists, especially the English Baptists, have all along the 
trail of their history enjoyed the labors of gifted lay brethren in 
the "Ministry of the Word," and Benjamin Flower, the shop- 
keeper of Finnisbury, doubtless labored in his home town at Har- 
low, in a measure like his honored father in the work of the Gos- 
pel, but not in the settled pastorate. Of Benjamin Flower's preach- 
ing at outstations while at Finnisbury, both Messrs. Luckham and 
Newnam are silent. 

"The young ladies, Elizabeth and Sarah, grew to be very much 
attached to Mr. Fox, who, on the death of their father, was ap- 
pointed guardian and executor. The young women became mem- 
bers of Mr. Fox's household, which was located in the very near 
vicinity of the home of the family of the poet, Robert Browning. 
Robert was then about twelve years of age when his mother first 
became acquainted with the two young ladies, Elizabeth and 
Sarah Flower." 

Dr. Whitley further writes, agreeable to the English customs 
and traditions of the Englishman being Captain of the Ship, and 
Lord of the Castle, which has prevailed in the British Isles from 
time immemorial: "Miss Flower is rather better known in Eng- 
land by her married name, Sarah Flower Adams." This doubt- 
less accounts, largely, for the commonly accepted idea, so gener- 
ally received, that Miss Sarah Flower was a Unitarian, because of 
the overshadowing importance in England of the husband over 
the wife. S. C. Pomeroy, the English critic, in writing for the 
English "Telegraph," says that "Sarah and sister Elizabeth first 
sang as a duet in the South Place Chapel, where they led the sing- 
ing. Browning had already outgrown the period of atheism which 
had troubled his friend, but it is doubtful if the hymn which is so 
dearly loved by thousands would ever have been written if it had 
not been for his influence upon Miss Sarah Flower. So it is en- 



tirely due to the singular, and unexpected meetings of the young 
and ardent Browning with the gentle, spiritual young woman, 
Sarah Flower, the world is indebted for the inspirational hymn, 
"Nearer My God to Thee." 

The hymn, while it does not mention the name of Christ, thrills 
through with the spirit of the Christ, and the suppliant tone is only 
equaled by its pathetic appeal to the Spirit of Him who "lilleth all 
and in all." 

"The boy, Robert Browning, was about twelve years of age 
when his mother first became acquainted with the two young ladies, 
who were nine and seven years his senior. Robert, in company 
with his mother very often visited the home of Mr. Fox, and there 
met the two young sisters who became much interested in the 
youth ; a strong attachment was soon formed between the young 
people ; they had many things in conmion, and freely gave vent 
to their ideas." Robert, in the ardour of his youth, was very 
marked and pronounced in his views against revealed religion, 
and his distinctive controversial and combative temperament, so 
characteristic of the young lad, who had read much and thought 
more upon the agnostic and atheistical literatvu'e so common in 
his day, had just caught the poetical vision and composed his first 
verses, which he read to his young friends. He called his first 
poetical production "Incondita," which, it is claimed with much 
regret. Browning destroyed subsequently, but not however before 
his fond mother had herself shown them to the young ladies, 
and they in turn had secretly shown them to their guardian, the 
Rev. Mr. Fox, who at once recognized the merit of the composi- 
tion and became much interested in the youthful poet and urged 
him to continue and pursue his poetical fancies, and in every way 
the clerical friend aided and encouraged the promising lad to com- 
pose verses. 

The friendshi}) formed beneath the roof of the Rev. Mr. Fox 
and his wards, toward the .Browning family was very mutual 
and friendly and extended over a period of several years. The 
young ladies had acquired and developed a literary taste under the 
direction of their guardian, and were quite fond of music, especi- 
ally classical. They were both gifted with good voices and often 
sang duets at the South Place Chapel, where they led the singing. 
The Brownings were also a musical family, and very naturally en- 
joyed the society of so splendid a compn.ny as Mr. Fox's house- 
hold. They consequently were much associated together and 
were frequent guests at each others home. The eldest sister, 
Elizabeth, became the ideal woman to the young poet, he very 

8 




The Misses Elizabeth and Sarah Flower 

Sarah, author of the hymn ■Nearer My God to Thee," was two years 
younger than Elizabeth. 



often wrote her boyish verses and letters, which he destroyed 
when they fell into his hands in later years. Elizabeth Flower 
was a meek spirited charming personality, and Robert, with his 
ardent, youthful notions, was much pleased with her winsome, 
cultured manners, hence it is Elizabeth, the eldest sister, it is 
repeatedly claimed, who inspired his first ambitious poem, "Paul- 
ine." His attachment and admiration for the eldest sister did not 
act, however, as a stair-bar to his greater infatuation for the 
younger sister, Sarah, whom he made his confidante. It was to 
Sarah he confided his ideals, his thoughts on religion and the 
drama, he unbosomed himself freely to her about his longings to 
go on the stage. The dramatic profession appealed strongly to his 
imaginative temperament. He enjoyed discussing the subject of 
the drama with his young friend. The theatre held a large place 
in the thought of young Browning's time. Society and the quality 
generally were loud in their praise. So, in common with the pop- 
ular thought of his day, Robert Browning expressed his ambition 
to become an actor to Sarah Flower ; and in return, much to the 
young poet's delight, Sarah, who also had a strong liking for the 
drama and a feverish desire to become an actress, expressed her 
thought on the subject to Robert, and laughingly she related her 
ambition in that direction. The result was that there sprang up 
between the young poet, Robert Browning, and his friend, Sarah 
Flower, a deeper confidence, and a strong bond of attachment 
was formed between them. The young, light-hearted woman 
found herself in the position, not only in that of a close friend, 
but the advisor to a youth who was passing throvigh a period of 
atheistic dovibt, for it was about this time in young Browning's 
career that he had become infatuated and imbued with the poetry 
of Shelley, and had further began to take a deep interest in all the 
current popular phases of infidel and atheistic literature, and es- 
pecially was he impressed with the philosophical bumpology of 
the keen French infidel lance, Voltaire, who had become strongly 
entrenched in the literary thought of the age, and a prime favorite 
to the imaginative mind of the young poet. It was just at this im- 
portant formative period of Robert Browning's life that Sarah 
Flower began to realize that she, too, was drifting away from her 
spiritvial moorings, that the atheistical tides were sweeping in 
upon her soul-life and that her doubts were giving rise to many 
troubled thoughts which affected her peace of mind. She became 
involved in her own arguments and thus wrote of her great per- 
plexity to her guardian, the following: "My mind has been wan- 
dering a long time and now seems to have lost sight of 



that only hold against the assaults of this warring world, 
a firm belief in the genuineness of the Scriptures. The 
cloud has come over me gradually and I did not dis- 
cover the darkness in which my soul was shrouded until 
in seeking to give light to others, my own gloomy state became 
too settled to admit of doubt. * * * It is in answering Rob- 
ert Browning that my mind refused to bring forward arguments, 
turned recreant and sided with the enemy." Later, Sarah Flower 
said that in seeking a way out of her "stony griefs," she wrote the 
hymn, "Nearer My God to Thee," which she composed during one 
of those crucial times of mental and spiritual struggle, the light 
shone in, and Sarah, accompanied by her sister, Elizabeth, first 
sang the hymn, "Nearer My God to Thee," as a duet in the South 
Place Chapel. Robert .Browning had by this time outgrown the 
period of his atheism which had given so much trouble to his 
friends, especially Sarah Flower, but under the good providence 
of God, the trouble occasioned by the young poet's doubt and athe- 
istic controversies with Sarah Flower, became the means to a good 
end. God graciously enlarged the vision of the young authoress and 
she gave to the world the hymn which is so much loved, and it is 
possible and probable (humanly speaking) that if Robert Brown- 
ing had not questioned and argued with his friend, she would 
have never penned the popular poem that reaches and fills so large 
a place in the afifectionate esteem of the great world of Christians. 
It was Browning's influence upon Sarah Flower — whose heart 
bled with the anguishing cry — she expressed her sentiment and 
wrote "Nearer My God to Thee.'' 

The history of the hymn and Browning's association and con- 
nection with its origin came to the attention of a visitor to the 
library of the British Museum, who was desirous of securing in- 
formation relative to the history of another matter entirely foreign 
to the topic herein stated. While engaged in research work, a 
large lot of bovmd pamphlets from a collection of miscellarieo.is 
papers was, purely by chance, placed before the notice of the visi- 
tor, and in reading over some of the pamphlets the history and 
centenary of the South Place Chapel, Finnisbury, was read with in- 
terest and the story of the origin of "Nearer My God to Thee" 
and Robert Browning's association with it came to light. The 
references are as interesting as they are informing to the lover 
of hymnology of the church militant. 

The South Place Chapel, Finnisbury, engaged the ministry of 
the gifted pastor, Rev. George J. Fox, for several years and he left 
a large place in the afifectionate regard of his parishioners, and not 

lO 



among the least of his congregation, were the IVIisses Elizabeth 
and Sarah Flower, his wards, and the Browning family. 

The hymn was sung in the South Place Chapel, Finnisbury, by 
the congregation in their public services for several years prior to 
the publication. Since then it has grown in the loving esteem of 
the whole Church universal, until the hymn, "Nearer My God to 
Thee," is not any more English or American than elsewhere ; it is 
not national, but international, and has long since outgrown the 
]V'\-;cribed limitations of any particular part or phase of the church 
life. It is suitable to all "sorts and conditions of men," meeting 
th.e cry and needs of the human heart, the wide world over. 

It is said in both the English and American reports of the sad 
and deplorable catastrophe that overtook the ill-fated steamship 
"Titanic," the company gathered around the shii)'s band wliile they 
blended their hearts together in deep sympathetic sorrow in the 
final moment, just as the ship sank beneath their feet. As they 
were about entering their watery grave the whole company 
united in singing "Nearer Aly God to Thee." 

It is a very striking, significant, and singular coincidence that 
this ever popular hymn should have been brought so prominently 
before the public notice at the time of the centenary of the dis- 
tinguished poet who inspired it. Robert Browning was so very 
intimately associated with its composition that he, in a word, was 
the occasion of its origin. 

The poetical expression and conception of the hymn is only 
equaled by its grasp of the infinite love it presents. Received as a 
literary production, it is a marvelous gem, and as a poem that 
bodies forth the cry of the human heart in its up-reaching after 
God, and, if not superior to any other, is equal to any in all the 
v/ide ranf^e and scope of the hymnology of the Church, and doubt- 
less will continue to hold front rank in the esteem of the future 
church as it has in the church of the past. Its place is warmly 
cherished in the affectionate regard of thousands who have "passed 
over the line," to the "great beyond." and v/ill doubtless be used in 
the assemblies of the days to come, whose countless nuiltitudes of 
those yet unborn, will praise God for Sarah Flower Adams' hymn, 
"Nearer My God to Thee." 

I was privileged to deliver an address on the history and origin 
of the hymn, "Nearer ]\Iy God to Thee," to the Ministers' Confer- 
ence in Philadelphia, May, 1913, and the local Philadelphia news- 
paper press gave an extended notice. I also spoke to the Baptist 
Ministers' Conference at Brooklyn, New York, December i, 191 3. 
See account in "Baptist Commonwealth," December 4, 1913 ; also 

II 



the Pittsburgh press made extended notices of the fact that Sarah 
Flower, the authoress of the hymn, "Nearer My God to Thee," 
was a .Baptist and not a Unitarian, as generally supposed. 



THE AUTHORS NOTE TO THE READER. 

Since the publication of the first edition of the history of the 
hymn, "Nearer My God to Thee," and the biographical sketch of 
its authoress, which appeared in 19 12, I have been repeatedly 
urged and requested by literary friends, both in Europe and in our 
own land, to publish a second and enlarged edition. 

In view of the fact that kind friends in the United States, and 
especially in England, have encouraged me by forwarding items 
and incidents that led me to believe it is worth while to publish 
this second edition, in the hope that it will meet the same cordial 
and generous reception that was accorded the first edition, both 
from my Unitarian and Trinitarian correspondents, all of whom 
were as sweet-spirited as they were commendatory, and as cordial 
and fraternal as they were Christian and lovable. 

I wish especially to thank and acknowledge my indebtedness to 
Mr. John Luckham, of St. Mary's, Southampton, England, book- 
seller and publisher, for the photos of Elizabeth and Sarah Flower, 
and, if I am correctly informed, the photo was for many years in 
the possession of the Luckham family, and, further, it is claimed 
Mr. John Luckham was a blood relative of the Flower family, 
who were originally from the "Midlands." Also to J. R. Smith, 
Esq., J. P. and Councillor, the well-known research authority and 
title examiner of the "English Bar," for the historical account of 
South Place Chapel, Finnisbury, London. Also to Mr. William 
Newnam, of the British Ordnance Survey, for the account of 
Sarah Flower's connection with the Baptist Fellowship. Also to 
the Rev. W. T. Whitley, M.A., LL.D., Secretary of the English 
Baptist Historical Society, London, England; and last, but not 
least, to the learned Editor of the English "Telegraph" for the 
splendid informing and extended article of November 15, 1912, on 
Sarah Flower and Browning, the poet. To each and all of the 
aforesaid I extend my thanks and appreciation, and in view of my 
acknowledged indebtedness to the aforesaid authors and authori- 
ties quoted. 

May I further say that there has appeared at various times, in 
our newspaper press and in the columns of our weekly and 
monthly denominational and circular periodicals, notice of the ori- 

12 



/ 



/ 



gin of the hymn, "Nearer \ly God to Thee," and both the date 
and place of the birth of the authoress, and her religious associa- 
tions and convictions have been freely presented, and in addition 
to the aforesaid notice of the "Press," there has been no small 
company of hymn book editors and contributors to hymnology 
who have given their version and had their "story to tell" agree- 
able to their own source of information, and they, like the men in 
Paul's day, "cried one thing and some another." 

I freely state in all fairness to the reader after an honest con- 
viction based upon a careful, thorough and painstaking investiga- 
tion of the facts historically and biographically. I have given 
what I believe to be the origin of the hymn, the date and place of 
birth of its authoress, her family connections and her religious 
afifiliations ; and further, I have given the reader my authorities, 
all of whom are well known in the sphere of their activities, and 
within reach of the reading public. 

Joshua E. Wills. 



13 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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014 385 834 #h^ 



